Brooder or foster-mother for chickens.



R. MILLER.

BBOODER 0R FOSTER MOTHER FOR OHIGKBNS. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 11:,1907` 908,795. Patented @11.51909 am JIJ JP C:

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ROBERT MILLER, OF DENNY, SCOTLAND.

BROODER OR FOSTER-MOTHER FOR CHICENS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led .Tune 13, 1907.

Patented aan. 5, 1909.

Serial No. 378,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MILLER, residing at The Boards Farm, Denny,` Stirlingshire, Scotland, a subject of the King of Great Britain, have invented an Improved Brooder or Foster-Mother for Chickens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to brooders or foster-mothers for chickens and it has for its object to improve their construction.

It is essential in order to `obtain an efiicient and successful brooder that it should be provided with means whereby a good supply of fresh air can be supplied to the chickens and at the same time a proper temperature maintained.

Under my invention the brooder consists of a large case or box having a sliding cover and provided at its interior with a smaller removable heating chamber or hot box and having means for regulating the supply of fresh air.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended an exlanatory drawing which shows a brooder or foster-mother made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a top plan, with parts broken away, of my brooder.

In carrying out Iny invention I referably make the outsidecase or box a of t e brooder rectangular in shape and constructed of wood or other suitable material and, fitted on the top of the case is a sliding lid b covered on the outside with sheet metal c, preferably galvanized iron, the edges c1 of which are turned downwards to form guides for the lid which slides longitudinally of the case. Inside the case a at one end thereof and fitted between the four corner posts al is a remoyable heating chamber or hot box c preferably square in shape and having its corner osts extended downwards to form feet f and eing made, at the center of its floor or bottom g with a round opening for an oil lamp h. Fitted on the box c is a removable ventilating lid or cover which is made double, the under part 'i being a piece of sheet metal slightly smaller than the inside of the box which is secured to and held apart from the upper part j by means of distance ieces t1 the part j being made of wood or ot er suitable material and sup orted on cross bars c1 secured on the inner side of the side walls of the box e. The part j of the lid is made with a row working in guide spars j and having cross spars j* by means of which it may be slid in the guide spars so as to form an ordinary hit and miss ventilator. It can be looked in any position by means of the pin 9'5 which is passed there-through and enters one or other of the holes j in the part of the lid. The lamp h stands on the floor or bottom of the case ct and passes up through the hole in the iloor or bottom of the box e the hole being fitted with a strip or piece h1 of thin sheet metal constituting a shield and which is formed into a ring and carries a wire guard h2 preferably made of close wire netting by means of which the chickens are prevented from coming in contact with the lamp h.

A. vertically sliding door 7c opens from the box e into the cold chamber a4 and is adapted to slide upwards and downwards in guide posts k1. The box e is also fitted with a Iixed ane of glass l near the top and at one side tliereof. If desired additional ventilation holes 0 may be made in the back and front of the case a and holes ol in the sides of the hot box c. The door c in the box c may be provided with a gangway or the like k3.

The fresh air is admitted from the cold chamber of* to the hot box c by way of an opening g1 into the space below the floor g and thence to the lamp which heats the air before it gains access to the interior of the hot box. The young chicks are placed in the hot box c and when they are sufficiently advanced the hot box, owing to the fact that it is not a iixture, can be removed and the chickens allowed the full freedom of the case a, the whole case thus formino a cold brooder capable of accommodating the chickens until they are four or five months old.

Owing to the fact that the brooder is itted with a sliding lid access can be readily given to all parts, which is a desideratum.

Although the to of the lamp rejects into the upper part of t Ie brooding c amber, the hot gases pass up through the ventilating o enmgs at the top. The guard round about t e lamp is sufficiently high to be above the level of the chicks and it would he seen that as the gases ascend and 'escape by the openings they cannot injure the chiclfs. There is a steady current of fresh air coming under the bottom of the brooder u around the lamp and then passing outwar s through the openings at the top.

It will 'be seen that the whole forms a neat strong and compact brooder the hot box be'- ing perfectly ventilated Without cold drafts and easily heated by meaIlS Of the lamp, the fresh air comi-ng in between the Hoors of the otter case and the hot box being warmed by the lamp before passing n throt gh the o ening 1n the floor of the hotlbox and out by t e Ventilating lid. By adjt sting the ventilator the degree of ventilation can be regulated to a nicety.

Having now f1 lly described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A chicken brooder comprising an outer case having a cold air chamber therein, a hot box removably fitted in one part of said case adjacent said cold air chamber with an opening therebetween and a clos-pre for said opening, a lid slidably fitted on the case, ventilating means for the hot box, and heating means s: pported on the bottom of the outer case and projected through the bottom of the hot box.

2. A chicken brooder comprising an outer case having a cold air chamber therein, a hot box with an opening at the bottom thereof removably fitted in one part of the case,

there beingy a passage below the box and communicating with said cold air chamber on the one hand and the opening in the bottom of the box on the other hand, a ventilator at the top of the box, and means for heating the box.

3. AV chicken brooder comprising an outer case having a cold air chamber therein, a hot box with an opening at the bottom thereof, removably fitted in one part of Said case, a lid slidably fitted on the case, means .for heating the box, there being a passage below the box and communicating with said cold air chamber on the one hand and the opening in the bottom of the box on the other hand, a ventilator at the top of the box, a metal shield around the heating means and allowing a free air passage between the shield and the said heating means, there being an o ening for admitting air below the bottom o the box and between said shield and heating means, and a door in the hot box.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RGBERT MILLER.

Witnesses:

HUGH D. FITZPATRICK, JAMES AIKEN. 

